Which artifact arises when the ultrasound beam encounters two strong parallel reflectors and the transducer interprets a deeper structure?

• A. Edge Effect
• B. Through Transmission Enhancement
• C. Artifacts
• D. Reverberation

Answer: (D)

Reverberation arises when the ultrasound beam repeatedly bounces between two strong parallel reflectors. Each bounce sends an echo back to the transducer, and the system places those echoes at increasing depths. Because the echoes are spaced at a constant interval (twice the distance between the reflectors), you see multiple parallel lines extending into the image. The deepest of these echoes is interpreted as a real, deeper structure, even though it’s just a ghost created by the bouncing between the two reflectors. This specific pattern matches the description of two strong parallel reflectors causing the transducer to misinterpret a deeper structure. The other artifacts involve different mechanisms—edge effects relate to interfaces and curved edges, while through-transmission enhancement involves changes in brightness from better transmission, and a generic artifact label doesn’t describe this repeating, depth-shifted pattern.